The Fitches Creek Residents Association (FCRA) hosted a community consultation on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, with over 50 residents and key stakeholders at the St. George’s Anglican Church. The consultation was attended by the Hon. Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Investment, Max Fernandez, alongside representatives from the Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority (ABAA), AECON, AVIA, the Antigua and Barbuda Transport Board (ABTB), the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda – Parham Police Department, and the FCRA’s “Building A Community Constituency for Conservation in the North East Marine Management Area” under the Critical Ecosystem’s Partnership Fund (CEPF).
The consultation focused on the significant impacts of the ABAA’s Runway Expansion Project, including road damage, reckless driving of trucks, limited stakeholder engagement along with environmental and social concerns. The ABAA’s US$55 million development project which includes a new turning bay, runway resurfacing, and other upgrades at the V.C. Bird International Airport uses the community’s roads to transport aggregate and other fine materials to the back entrance of the airport. This has led to the sudden and exacerbated deterioration of the community’s core network roads including Fitches Creek Drive, Central Avenue and St. George Road.
Fitches Creek Residents Association (FCRA) Chairperson, Mr. Clement Samuel moderated the discussions which encapsulated the community’s call for action to find solutions. Residents raised additional issues such as the enforcement of truck covers to stop spillage, visibility and lack of license plates on trucks, reporting systems for speeding drivers, and clearly defined timelines in the contractor’s work plan. The consultation highlighted the need for road repairs, including the drainage systems noting further deterioration with the 2025 hurricane season, rerouting heavy trucks away from community roads not built for such loads, and addressing health and safety risks from dust and material spills. The community’s location within the North East Marine Management Area (NEMMA) highlighted the concern for environmental safeguarding.
While invited, the St. Peter Parliamentarian Representative, Hon. Min. Rawdon Turner was unable to attend due to official travel. The Hon. Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Investment, Mr. Max Fernandez committed to provide the community with timelines regarding remedial roadworks with connection to the Ministry of Works. During the consultation, the representatives from the Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority (ABAA) agreed to work with its contractor to reroute heavy machinery and engage the Ministry of Works for road rehabilitation support. The Parham Police representatives advised residents to report speeding, illegal dumping, and spillage, assuring them that submitted photographic or video evidence would be used to enforce action against violators.
Britney McDonald, Project Manager for the FCRA’s Biodiversity and Conservation Project, emphasized the importance of ongoing environmental and social training and future public consultations to ensure the project is implemented responsibly and with limited impact to communities across the island.
The Fitches Creek Residents’ Association encourages other affected communities to engage with the relevant authorities, report incidents promptly, and join in efforts to safeguard public health, road safety, and the environment.
The Fitches Creek Residents’ Association is a local organization committed to maintaining the safety, cleanliness, and overall well-being of the Fitches Creek Community. The FCRA plays an active role in environmental conservation and community-led initiatives aimed at protecting the Fitches Creek Bay and surrounding areas.
The “Building a Community Constituency for Conservation in the Fitches Creek Bay and the NEMMA” Project is led by the Fitches Creek Residents Association and is funded by the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund with the support of the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute and partner Integrated Health Outreach. For more information about the project and upcoming events, please contact the Project Manager, Britney McDonald or the “FCRA Community Projects” Facebook page.
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They have every right to argue and to protect their homes roads and environment